Using a ribbon created from freshly grown rosemary, St. Matthias Catholic Academy (SMCA), Ridgewood, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its NY Sun Works Hydroponic STEM Lab. It is the first Catholic elementary school in New York City to build a hydroponics lab.

Pictured above, from left, Diana Reyna, academy parent, former councilwoman and former deputy Brooklyn borough president; Dawn Carrillo, vice chair of the SMCA board; Councilman Antonio Reynoso; Auxiliary Bishop Neil Tiedemann, C.P, pastor of St. Matthias parish; Principal Barbara Wehnes, Sidsel Robards from NY SunWorks; Evelyn Cruz from Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez’s office; Manuela Zamora, executive director of NY SunWorks; Brother Ralph Darmento, F.S.C., diocesan deputy superintendent of schools; John Pettei, SMCA board chair; Gregory Haufe, SMCA board treasurer; Richard Boey, board secretary joined by St. Matthias students and other community members. Student Diego Telechea did the honors of cutting the ribbon.